Unemployment among newcomers rises

Juliana Tonello

October 07, 2010

The number of unemployed immigrants living in Canada between five and 10 years is now 60 per cent higher than two years ago, representing 15.1 per cent of its population, according to Toronto’s Vital Signs Report, published by the Toronto Community Foundation.

The annual study, which aims to mobilize donors, community organizations and cross-sector leaders to tackle quality-of-life issues in creative ways, showed that organizations focused on newcomers are ones with the most work ahead.

Nearly two out of five immigrants who come to Canada in the skilled work category fall into low-income group within their first year in Canada, even though many of them bring along their savings. The big barrier is recognition of foreign credentials and job experience, while lack of language and cultural literacy skills also attribute to their difficulty in finding jobs.

However, the report shows that Toronto’s immigrants looking for a job still have reasons to be optimistic. More than a quarter of employers who responded to the poll named cultural diversity as one of Toronto’s best qualities, which is also the highest priority of this group.

- Job applicants with English-sounding names were 40 per cent more likely to receive an interview call than those with identical Canadian training and experience, but with Chinese, Indian or Pakistani names.

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